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Super Bowl 50: Attacking the Denver Broncos Defense

By John Woodcock

Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) carries the ball against Denver Broncos nose tackle Sylvester Williams (92) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) carries the ball against Denver Broncos nose tackle Sylvester Williams (92) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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In Super Bowl 50, the Panthers will look to grind out offense against the 3-4 scheme of Wade Phillips.

In Super Bowl 50, the Carolina Panthers will have to find a successful way to attack the Broncos defense. The Broncos defense was a set 4-3 alignment under previous coach John Fox, but current head coach Gary Kubiak brought aboard defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and the team made the change to a 3-4 group.

This made sense too, as the Broncos had both Demarcus Ware and Von Miller to attack with from the outside linebacker position. The result has been a defense that looks a lot like the Panthers defense of 1996. The difference is that the Broncos are firmer in the secondary than the Panthers team of that year.

So facing a team like Denver gives the Panthers two avenues of attack. One is the running game. The Panthers need to push the three man line of the Broncos around to set up short third downs. That will prevent Phillips from doing some of his trademark blitzing, and keep the Panthers offense on the field.

That will put a premium on run blocking, and particularly run blocking in the middle where Ryan Kalil, Andrew Norwell, and Trai Turner are. Two things will have to happen for Jonathan Stewart to have a breakout game. One, Sylvester Williams the nose tackle will have to be blocked out at the point of attack, and secondly the push must reach the two middle linebackers to neutralize their effectiveness.

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This will not be easy as former Tar Heel Williams has had a good season at the middle of that line.

The Broncos secondary has two cornerbacks with good reputations for competence. On one side will be Aqib Talib and the other side will be Chris Harris, Jr. Harris is not be confused with the former safety for the Panthers and Talib had something of a feud with Steve Smith when he was in Tampa Bay. This may be the hardest pairing of corners for Ted Ginn and Corey Brown given the competence of both guys on the outside.

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Therefore it will likely be the other guys who find holes in the defense. That could be Jerricho Cotchery or Devin Funchess from the slot positions. It will likely mean a steady does of Greg Olsen. The Broncos will have to decide how they want to handle Olsen since he will face different coverages and will find ways to get open or catch the ball.

At some point this game will come down to whether Cam Newton gets the protection he needs to make plays. Ware and Miller are built for pass rush. They will come, it is what they do. So what will the line do? Will they hold them off? Will Cam have to get more scramble yards this game?

One thing is for certain, the Panthers cannot turn the ball over. Newton had one interception against the Cardinals and it nearly changed the game until a snake bit Carson Palmer threw it back to Kurt Coleman.
Super Bowl 50 is just down the calendar a little ways now.

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